Backyard bonefish a thrill in SD Bay

CORONADO — When you consider what some anglers pay to travel to bonefish destinations in exotic locations, Randy Riecken has a pretty good gig going right now.

Riecken has been instructing youngsters how to fish in San Diego Bay. A little over a month ago he put one 8-year-old angler onto a small bonefish that he landed from the boardwalk along Coronado Cays.

Riecken followed that up by taking two youngsters out for their first time fishing. This time, a 5-year-old and a 7-year-old got to see a bonefish up close. It measured 16 inches long.

He knew the boys only as Ricci, who is 7, and Jaric, who is 5. They were visiting Coronado for a couple of days from San Jose and wanted to fish.

“We fished the same place I took the other boy out and this time there were high winds, very low tide, and it was 49 degrees in the shade,” Riecken said. “We have caught more bonefish, but have lost them due to being late to grab the rod, the drag settings not set for this class of fish or pilings in the water. It all makes for a good challenge.”

Riecken’s next venture is to organize a volunteer group to teach kids how to fish. He’s modifying a beach-surf rod holder cart and plans to load it up and walk Silver Strand State Beach to fish from the surf.

“I don’t think the Home Owners Association or the residents will allow me to fish the marina here at the condo much longer due to the excessive jubilant behavior by the fishermen, mostly me,” he said.

Hall of Fame: Michael L. Farrior, of Rancho Santa Fe and a trustee with the International Game Fish Association, has been elected into the Outdoors Hall of Fame. Farrior was honored for his volunteer work on behalf of the IGFA and the Tuna Club of Avalon. Farrior has worked with other dedicated people in the sportfishing community such as Catherine Miller of the San Diego Sportfishing Council to host young angler tournaments on local piers. Farrior also sponsors the IGFA Junior Anglers Tournament at the San Diego Marlin Club. In addition to those contributions, Farrior, a world-renowned collector of fishing reels and gear, has donated reels for Make-A-Wish Foundation drawings as well as funded fishing trips for Wounded Warriors recuperating at San Diego Naval Hospital.

In addition to Farrior, San Francisco-based sport boat captain and conservationist Jacqueline Douglas and Ed Migale, a developer of fishing tackle and youth hunt organizer, also were elected into the Outdoors Hall of Fame.

Trout stocking: There was a mix-up with the Department of Fish and Wildlife trout stocking schedule. Those trout that were supposed to go into Miramar at the end of 2012 now are set to be planted the week of Jan. 20. The DFW stocked Chollas, Cuyamaca, El Capitan, Murray, Lindo, Lower Otay and Morena last week.

If you hunted Imperial Valley this year for upland birds or waterfowl, here’s a chance to give something back to a group that made a lot of that hunting possible. Desert Wildlife Unlimited will hold its annual barbecue and fundraiser Jan. 26 starting at 5 p.m. at the Brawley Lions Club. It’s a great deal at just $10 a plate, and there will be a raffle and silent auction to raise money for the chapter. For information about donating to the chapter or for information about hunting the Valley or the desert, call DWU founder Leon Lesicka at (760) 344-2793.

Hunter safety: Fletcher Diehl’s next hunter safety class is set for Jan. 26-27. Call him at (619) 448-6301 for details